Cargo Gliders

[Douglas]

We've all seen the gliders from WWII that could transport a good deal of people and equipment.

This got me thinking that it would have been an interesting avenue that aviation could have gone down post war.

I have been thinking lately that it would be an interesting way to transport more cargo with less expense.

Imagine a C208 full of cargo towing a cargo glider behind it.
Would cost it be cost effective?
Would the TAS take a considerable hit?

Beyond it being impractical, anybody know of weight/speed limitations that would hinder this?

Military guys, does the armed forces have gliders in their inventory anymore?

 

[BajtheJino]

The 'Van is under powered as is. At max T.O. weight there is no way it could haul a glider of any weight.

 

[tgrayson]

I have been thinking lately that it would be an interesting way to transport more cargo with less expense. ?

I can't see how that would work; the powered aircraft will just be generating twice the thrust to compensate for the glider's lack of thrust. Probably the net drag would be greater than if the cargo capacity were consolidated in one aircraft.

Brings back childhood memories, though:

http://www.tomswift.info/homepage/skytrain.html

 

[Douglas]

Dream killers, all of you!

 

[Blackhawk]

Germans tried it.
http://www.aviastar.org/air/germany/me-321.php

 

[Adler]

Germans tried it.
http://www.aviastar.org/air/germany/me-321.php

So did the Russians...in Russian style of course
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_A-40

 

[tgrayson]

So did the Russians...in Russian style of course

But neither of these were attempts to save fuel.

 

[Minuteman]

I recon the cargo gliders were used during WWII primarily as a means for having airlift capacity without shelling out for expensive, limited-availability stuff like engines or metal.

I but the additional structural weight and profile & wetted area would be more than building a single aircraft with the same capability.

 

[nosehair]

Well of course we're just dreaming, but the question reminded me that there are other ways of "launching" other than "towing". I seem to remember some old ways of being propelled into the air such as, what was it?..Oh, yeah, the Wright Flyer. Aren't some gliders launched that way?
A powerful launching system, and a remote controlled cargo container. Sounds doable if an effective launching system can be designed. Probably with rocket power.

 

[tgrayson]

Sounds doable if an effective launching system can be designed. Probably with rocket power.

The minimum amount of energy to move an object from A to B remains a constant. The actual energy expended depends on how efficiently one form of energy is converted into another. Propellers are much more efficient than jets, and jets are much more efficient than rockets, otherwise, we'd be using them.

The rocket uses up its fuel at the start of a trip and coasts the rest of the way, and a jet uses it up over a longer period of time.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

 

[Douglas]

Well of course we're just dreaming, but the question reminded me that there are other ways of "launching" other than "towing". I seem to remember some old ways of being propelled into the air such as, what was it?..Oh, yeah, the Wright Flyer. Aren't some gliders launched that way?
A powerful launching system, and a remote controlled cargo container. Sounds doable if an effective launching system can be designed. Probably with rocket power.

Yeah, I like it. Truck launch!

Trucking companies need to be introduced to the ways of the glider.
They tow me along the interstate until we get to the city limits and I glide to the airport.

 

[Minuteman]

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